Itaconate biosynthesis in Aspergillus terreus.

Itaconate biosynthesis was studied in intact cells of high-yield (RC4') and low-yield (CM85J) strains of the fungus Aspergillus terreus by methods (tracers, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy) that did not interfere with metabolism. Itaconate formation in RC4' required de novo protein biosynthesis. Krebs cycle intermediates increased in both strains during the production of itaconic acid. The Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway and the Krebs cycle were shown to be involved in this biosynthesis by using 14C- and 13C-labelled substrates and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A metabolic pathway for itaconate formation from glucose in A. terreus is proposed.

Role of the 1-amino group in aminocyclitol antibiotics: synthesis of 1-deaminogentamicin C2.

The synthesis of 1-deaminogentamicin C2 described here, uses 3,2',6',3"-tetrakis-N-tert-butoxycarbonylgentamicin C2 (2) as intermediate. N-Formylation of 2 followed by per-O-acetylation and dehydration furnished the isocyanide 5. Radical-induced deamination of the latter using tri-n-butylstannane and removal of the protecting groups afforded the target 1-deaminogentamicin C2 (7). Its in vitro antibacterial activity is less than that of the parent gentamicin C2. The behaviour of 7 towards aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes was also examined; interestingly, it was found to be neither substrate nor inhibitor for such enzymes. These results strongly suggest that the substitution pattern of the 1-position determines the biological properties of the aminoglycoside antibiotics.

1-N-acylation of gentamicin C1a by a cyclic, chiral gamma-amino-alpha-hydroxy acid related to the (S)-4-amino-2-hydroxybutyric acid.

A semisynthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic 15, containing a cyclic gamma-amino-alpha-hydroxy acid, related to the 1-N-4-amino-2-hydroxybutyric acid (AHBA) side chain of butirosins and amikacin, has been prepared. Conveniently protected 3,2',6'-tris-N-tert-butoxycarbonylgentamicin C1a (12) was condensed with the phtalimido active ester 10 to give after catalytic reduction and deprotection, the hitherto unknown 1-N-substituted gentamicin C1a 15. The requisite side chain was synthesized from the readily available D-(-)-quinic acid. The antibacterial properties of 15 are given.

Sub-unit assembly in the biosynthesis of neomycin. The synthesis of 5-O-beta-D-ribofuranosyl and 4-O-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-2,6-dideoxystreptamines.

The preparation of the deoxy- analogues of two pseudodisaccharide fragments of neomycin, 5-O-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-2,6-dideoxy-streptamine and 6-deoxyneamine is described. When added to the growth medium of a deoxystreptamine-idiotroph of Streptomyces rimosus forma paromomycinus only the latter was incorporated into antibiotic, suggesting an obligatory order for the assembly of sub-units. 4-O-beta-D-Ribofuranosyl-2,6-dideoxystreptamine was also prepared. When added to the growth medium of a deoxystreptamine-idiotroph of Streptomyces fradiae it was converted into the 6-deoxyneomycins, apparently after hydrolysis to 2,6-dideoxystreptamine. The structure of the protected derivatives of the ribofuranosyl 2,6-dideoxystreptamines, potentially useful intermediates for the synthesis of novel antibiotics, was shown by using 15C NMR spectroscopy.